Peter Machen is an artist, writer, and designer from Durban, South Africa. A well-loved art and film critic, he has written for numerous national and international publications. Peter was director of the Durban International Film Festival for several years and is the author of Durban: A Paradise and its people and Durban: A Return to Paradise. He currently lives in Berlin, Germany, where he heads The Communication Factory and provides his editing services to the plant-based advocacy organisation ProVeg. His interview podcast Talk to Peter will kick off in early 2026.